Switch



oct.' 24, 1933. A, ALSAKER Ef AL 1,932,121

SWITCH Filed April 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 24, 1933.

A. ALSAKER El" AL Filed April 16, 1928 SWITCH 4 3 Sheets-Sheecl 2 t# mg @www W dal@ Oct. 24, 1933. A. ALsAKl-:R ET AL 1,932,127

SWITCH Filed April 16. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet, 3

Patented Oct. 24, 1933 f SWITCH Alfred Alsakcr and Harold A. Holmes, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Delta-Star Electric Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 16, 1928; Serial No. 270,2()9

21 Claims.

Our invention relates to electrical switches of the disconnecting type, although, obviously, the invention is not limited to any particular use, but may be employed wherever found suitable.

n the preferred embodiment which is herein illustrated, our switch is employed in a power circuit for disconnecting an oil circuit breaker from a normally connected circuit to free the contacts of the oil circuit breaker of potential.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to house oil circuit breakers in cells made of suitable insulating material such as asbestos board, cement and the like, with the leads from the busses yor lines extending into the cells and into connection with the'terminalsoi the oil circuit breakers. Disconnect switches outside of the cells vhave generally been provided, preierably in separate cells.

Within recent years the practice of employing y@ circuit breakers of the truck type has become accepted practice. The truck type of circuit breakers is movable into and out of its cell on a small truck having rollers, preferably running in a track, so that the oil circuit breaker may be withdrawn from the cell and run out onto the iioor for inspection or repair, or the like.

Obviously, such removability of the circuit breakers is desirable and, whereas, heretofore, Aseparate disconnecting switches have been neces- ,30 sary in the leads to the oil circuit breakers and release-ble connections at the bushing terminals oi the oil circuit breakers have been employed, we propose, according to the present invention, to form the connect. n between the bushing terminal of the oil circuit breaker and the ked conductors entering the cell through a disconnecting tch, a part of which is carried by the oil circuit breaker bushing terminal and the other parts by the stationary conductor leading into 4Q the cell.

Obviously, since the travel of the rollers on the door, cr on tracks in the Ydoor, is the only guiding means for governing the alignment of these two cooperating' disconnect switch parts, no accuracy of alignment can be relied upon and the switch parts must cooperate within a relatively large tolerance of misalignment.

In the preferred form of our invention, we mount a hinge contact member on the'oil circuit breaker busl..ng stud with adjustments to vary the height or" the same. We mount the free contact member on an insulating support Within cell and provide a movable blade member hinged on the hinge contact member. The switch arm is adapted to have universal motion at each of its cooperating contacts, not in the arm itself, but in the connections thereto, since the arm provides the one unalterable dimension. The switch arm and the free contact are provided with means whereby the blade may be locked in closed position.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art withthe manner of constructing and operating a device embodying our invention, We shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, a speciiic structure in which our invention appears.

In the drawings, l Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the oil circuit breaker disposed in the cell and the disconnectible switch connection between the oil circuit breaker terminals andY the stationary terminal mounted on a wall of the cell;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, showing the switch blade, its lock and the '75 contacts cooperating with the switch blade;

Fig. 3 is a front View of the same as though taken from the right ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is atop plan vView of the stationary con-A tact; y f

Fig. 5 is a .vertical sectional View through the hinge contact and a part of the blade;

Fig. 6 is an endwise view of` one of the members of the hinge contact; and

Fig. `'7 is a face view oi the same. 85 Referring now to the drawings, the oil circuit breaker l is housed in the cell 2, this cell comprising an elongated, vertical, cubical receptacle having a door at the upperv end thereof as indicated at 3, which is mounted on hinges. This door 3 may be swung open when it is desired to wheel the oil circulit breaker l out on the rollers 4 4, which preferably have a guiding track in the lower part of the cell 2. n Y

It is old to wheel a trucktype oil circuit breaker into a cell and have contacts of vthe same engage stationary contacts mounted on the wall of the` cell, but the ditliculty with that construction is, that a sperate disconnect switch is necessary or the oil circuit breaker would have to be wheeled out of its cell if mere disconnection weredesired.

The oil circuit breaker l and its operating mechanism, as Well as its supporting truck and guiding track, are known in the art and form no novel part of our invention. The guiding track for the rollers is indicated at 5, so that when the truck with the oil circuit breaker thereupon is Wheeled into the cell, it will assume, as nearly as possible, a kpredetermined position.

` The oil circuit breaker has a pair of bushing studs 6 which are connected down through the insulating bushings 7 to the contacts within the oil chamber 8, the movable contact bridging the same being controlled by suitable operating mechanism 9, which may be of any preferred or desired construction. The studs 6 are spaced apart a suitable distance and extend substantially vertical, one behind the other as viewed in Fig. 1. Each I these studs is threaded, and a suitable split thraded clamp 10, adjustable vertically, is mounted on the corresponding stud 6 and locked in position. The split clamping ears 12-12 are adapted to be drawn together by bolts 13-13 to lock the member upon the stud 6. `The body of the clamp 10 has a nat-sided stud 15 formed integrally therewith and extending vertically above the same, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. To the sides of the stud 15 there are clamped the contact and terminal pieces 16-17 by means of .two through bolts 18. These contact pieces 16 `and 17 comprise tubular members, such as copper tubing, mechanically stamped or compressed upon the braided copper ribbons 20 and 21s respectively, and upon flat leaf springs 22, 23 and 24, 25, respectively. This shrinking or compressing of the copper tubing upon the ends of the copper ribbons and upon the leaf springs is preferably done in a punch press. The through bolts i8 clamp these terminal members and their connected parts rmly on the stud 15. The cantilever springs 22-23 and 24--25 tend to bow toward each other.

At their upper ends the copper ribbons 20 and 21are clamped in a similar manner within the plates 26 and 27, which are formed of copper tubing compressed mechanically upon the ribbons 20 and 21.

i Ablade member 30, which in this case is a ci hard drawn copper, has its hinge end embraced by the plates 26 and 27 which comprise "the `hinge contact `oi? the switch. The corners o! the lower end of the blade are chamfered off to avoid cutting the contact plates 26 and 27 if the blade 30 is moved while out of alignment.

The structure of the plate member 27 is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The plate member 26 isddentical with the plate member 27 and a description of one of them will sufllce for both. These plate members have a central hole 31 therethrough, the edges of the hole being chamfered of! and the hole belnglarger than the shank of the bolt 32 which extends therethrough.

The edges of the holes 31 and the edges of the hole through the switch blade are countersunk on both sides. In Figs. 6 and 7 the lower ends b1, the copper ribbons are shown as prepared for ,assembly in the plates 16 and 17. Obviously, instead of shrinking the copper tubes upon the lower ends and upon the lower ends ol' the springs, the springs, ribbons and terminal blocks may be `assembled merely by bolting.

`The plates 26 and 27 have pins or studs fixed 'thereintd these studs 33 and 34 having collars thereupon, and the opposite ends being riveted into countersunk holes in the plates 26 and 27 so that the studs 33 and 34 are rigid with the `plates 26` and 27. The purpose of the studs 33 and 34 is to prevent turning or angular motion of the plates 26 and 27 on the bolt 32. These studs 33 and 34 extend through holes in the upper ends of the springs 23 and 25, which springs extend beyond the ends of the springs 22 and 24,

although this feature is optional.

IThe pivot bolt 32 extends through the springs `21d-L23 and 24-25, drawing them towards each other. Between the ilat springs and the plates 26 and 27 we dispose the spring washers 36 and 37, which are preferably segments of a hollow sphere, or they may be small truncate cones, their function being to spread the pressure of the springs and the tension of the bolt 32 over the plates 26 and 27 to assure a proper distribution of pressure between said plates 26 and 27 and the blade member 30 between them. At the same time, since the holes in the springs 22-23 and 24--25, through which the bolt 32 passes, is made relatively loose so that the bolt 32 has a small degree of angular freedom for lateral swinging motion of the blade 30, the interposition of the spring washers 36 and 37 permits motion of the blade with the plates flat against the same to the desired limited extent without binding.

From the above it will be seen that the blade 30 has its proper pivotal motion on the axis o1r the bolt 32 for swinging from closed vertical position to open horizontal position, such as is customary in a switch of this type, but, in addition, the blade 30 has a limited play laterally, that is, to the right or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, about the lower contact terminal, without adversely ailecting the maintenance of satisfactory Contact between the blade and its cooperating hinge contacts. Also, due to the fact that the springs on which the bolts 32 are mounted extend upwardly substantially in parallel relation, they permit lateral or bodily displacement sidewise of the lower end of the blade without loss of contact. There is, therefore, free swinging motion of the blade for the normal opening and closing thereof in the plane of the blade, and the plane of the blade may be varied by a limited degree of motion in the hinge connection.

The upper contact member 39, which cooperates with the upper end of the blade 30, has a construction in many ways similar to thc lower hinge contact. The upper contact 39 is mounted upon the stud 40 which forms a part of a threaded rod 4l extendingr through the insulating sleeve 42, which insulating sleeve extends through and is mounted upon the wall or barrier 43 forming the back of the cell 2. The rod 41 is provided with a shoulder 44 which is drawn against one end of the insulator sleeve 42 by means of the nut 45 which is threaded upon the opposite end of said rod 41.

A two-part split clamp emlr'raccs the central part of the insulating sleeve 42 and it has ears, such as 47--47 whereby the saine may be clamped to the barrier 43.

The outer end of the rod 41 is provided with o pair of clamping nuts 43 whereby rod may be connected to a bus bar or other suitable couductor.

Connecting plates 5f) and 5l, which are preferably made of copper tubing mechanically compressed or swaged upon the ends the copper ribbons 52--53 and the CorrespendingY leaf springs 54 and 55, bolted to the sides of the stud 40 as by a pair of through bolts 56. The leaf springs 54-55 are multileaf cantilever sprl! the leaves extending forwardly and be 5f apertured to receive the pins 57 and 58, which are connected to the lock plates 59 and Eil and to contact plates 6l and 62 which are prefer made of copper tubn3 swaged upon the cc; sponding ends of the copper ribbons 52 and These Contact plates 6l and 52 are provided. with integral divergent horns '52 and (I4 for guidi. i the blade 30 into proper location between tl in. The innermost leaf of thc springs 54 and E5 et;-

two of Vefe tendsforwardly and is apertured in each case to receive the corresponding pins 65 and66, these pins being provided with suitable shouldersv67 and having their inner ends riveted in countersunk holes in the contact' plates 6l and 62.

In like manner, the pins 57 and l56 have spherically shaped. shoulders Git-68 facing outwardly, and the inner ends of the' pins 57S8 extending through the plates 59 and 60 and the corresponding contact plates 6l and 62 being riveted over in countersunk holes therein. f

The pins 57-58 and 65-66 are loosely held in the corresponding holes. The shoulders 67 do not extend intoy Contact with the leaf springs fas-do the spherical shoulders 68, so that a limited universal motion of the contact members'6l and 62 is permitted and, at the same ime, these contact plates are pressed towards each other by the cantilever springs 54 and 55. The pins 65-66 prevent rotation of the contact plates 61 and 62 on the axis of the pins 57-58.

The contact plates 6l` and 62 can be displaced laterally by flexing of the cantilever springs 54 and 55, these springs being tensioned so as to press the corresponding contact plates towards each other under appreciable tension even when the blade is out from between them.

The locking plates 59 and 60 extend upwardly,

p as viewed infFig. 2 to provide locking shoulders or detents 70, back of which the locking bolts 7l may drop to prevent opening movement ci the blade 30. One of these plates 60 likewise has an extension 72 overlying the other contact plate back of the position where the rear edge of the blade should come when it is in closed position.

This serves as a limiting stop for the closing movement of the blade 30;

-The locking bolts are formed on opposite sides of a slidable sleeve memberv 73 which is slidable endwise on the end of the blade 30, kall as disclosed in the co-pending application of Eric Nordhem, Serial No. 137,833, led September 27, 1926, to whichv specific reference is here made for a disclosure of the locking mechanism.

Sumce it to say here that the operating eye member is pivoted en the pin 76 whichY extends through the upper end of the sleeve 73,this member 75V having a flat cam, as indicated in dotted lines at 77, engaging the outer square end of the blade 30, and a spring urging the sleeve -73 downwardly as viewed in Fig. 2 to force the lugs 71 downwardly back of the vshoulders 70. The lugs 7l are made wide enough to reach across the contact` plates 61-62 to engage back of the shoulders 70 on the locking plates 59 and 60.

Itcan be seen that the Contact plates 6l `and 62 have limited universal motion. The pins 65 and 66 pass through ,slotted holes in the inner Aleaf of the spring members so that a limited rotational motion in theplane of thepaper in Fig. 4 can occur.` Obviously, a rocking motion in the plane of the pins 57-65 and 58-66 is free to occur, and the plates may obviously be displaced laterally or bodily in the plane of the paper as viewed in Fig. 4 by virtue oi the mounting on the flat springs 54. and 55.

Due to the fact that the contacts 6l and 62 will follow the blade 30, and due to the fact that the locking sleeve 73 is mounted on the upper end of the blade and, hence, also follows it, it will be apparent that for all positions of the parts v/henthe blade `is closed with the contacts 6l and 62, ther locking lugs 7.1 are` able toA lock effectively back of theshoulders 70..'

- The actioncf the locking mechanismis autornatic in that rocking of the eye member 75 about the pivot 76 withdraws the lugs 7l from back of the shoulders 70 when the eye 75 is pulled to open the switch and,.likewise, upon closing the switch the pressure upon the eye member 75 raises the locking lugs or bolts 7l until the switch blade engages the stop 72 and upon release of pressure the spring means which lurges the sleeve 73 downward, as viewed inFig. 2, throws the locking lugs 7lback of the shoulders 70.

The operation of the` device shown in Fig. l is believed to be apparent from the `foregoing den scription. When the oil circuit breaker is to be disconnected only, the operating mechanism is tripped to open the oil switch and thereafter, by `the insertion of a switch stick hook in the eye of the member 75, the member 75 is pulled out-` wardly, releasing the locking lugs 71 from the shoulders 70 and permitting the switch blade 30 to be pulled outwardly. Ir desired, a grounding bus may be mounted on a part of the frame of the oil circuit breaker l so that the switch blade 30 may be swung into contact with such a grounded contact leading through a grounded cable to neutral ground.

If the circuit breaker is to be removed from the cell 2, the operating inecharnsm is first tripped and, thereafter, the switch blades 36 on each of the` terminals of theoil switch are opened and the oil circuit breaker may be wheeled out of thecell where it is available for inspection, repairs and the like. y

It is to be understood that the oil circuit breaker l has two terminals and, consequently, there are two disconnect switch blades 30 for each oi the .i

oil circuit breakers; hence, for a three phase line there arev six disconnect switches. Since, however, they are identical in structure and mode of operation, it is not deemed necessary to show them. Y `Since the details of construction and dimensions of the oil circuit breakers may vary within limits, the adjustable coupling 16 may be raised or lowered to adjust the proper position of the hinge contact with respect to the free contact. The clamp l0 may be turned on the stud 6 so as to alter the normal plane in which the blades 30 swing. The red el through the insulator 42 may be adjusted angularly to align the free contact as nearly as possible with the plane of the blade.

. We do not intend to be limited to the details of construction shown or described. We believe that it is broadly new with our invention to provide a separable disconnecting switch on the terminals oi an oil circuit breaker, the blade being hinged on either the stationary member or on the movable terminal member of the oil circuit breaker within our invention, although, in our opinion, the `construction shown is preferable. v our invention to provide a switch in which provision is made for limited but dennite universal play at both the hinge Contact and the free contact.

` Whilevwe have shown a specific Jform of lock, it is to be understood that the form oi the lock may be varied widely, within limits, so long as the lock parts which are carried by the stationary contact follow the stationary contact in adapting themselves to the alignment oi the switch bladek and its lock parts.v It is therefore broadly new in our invention to permit one of the lockparts to lWe believe, also, thatit is broadly new in lso have freedom of adjustment to adaptitself to the other lock partswhich, with respect toits support, does not have the freedom oi' adjustment. In fact, it is broadly new to have any of the lock parts provided with a small degree of universal freedom.

We claim:-

1. In combination, a iirst contact, a stationary insulating support therefor, a second contact, an insulating support therefor, said last mentioned insulating support being movable with respect to the iirst mentioned support, and a switch arm hinged on one of said contacts and cooperable with the other of said contacts when the movable support is in a predetermined position, said contacts being provided with mountings on their supports permitting a limited degroe of freedom of motion with respect to one another.

2. In combination, a cell, a stationary contact mounted in insulated relation on a wall of the cell and being disposed in said cell, a movable truck-type oil circuit breaker normally disposed in the cell and movable out of the same, said circult breaker having a terminal, a contact permanently mounted thereupon, and a switch arm hinged on said latter contact and cooperable with the stationary contact, the contacts being movably mounted with respect to one another independent of movement of the breaker.

3. In combination, a container forming a cell, a stationary contact mounted in insulated relation in said cell and extending in a horizontal position within the cell, a movable truck-type oil circuit breaker normally disposed in the cell but movable out of the same, said circuit breaker having a vertically disposed terminal, a contact permanently mounted on said terminal, but being adjustable vertically thereupon, and a switch arm hinged on one of said contacts.

4. In combination, a housing forming a cell, a horizontal sleeve of insulation extending through a. wall of the cell, a conductor mounted in said sleeve and having a horizontally extending terminal, a truck-type oil circuit breaker normally disposed in the cell, tracks in the cell for guiding the circuit breaker into a. predetermined position, said circuit breaker being movable out of the cell on said tracks, said circuit breaker having a vertically extending terminal, a vertically adjustable connector on said terminal, a hinge contact mounted on said connector, and a switch arm mounted on said hinge terminal and adapted to cooperate with said horizontally disposed contact.

5. In combination, a housing forming a cell, a horizontally extending insulator in the upper part of the cell, a terminal mounted on said insulator, a pair oi" contact jaws flexibly mounted on said terminal, a truck-type oil circuit breaker in the cell, said circuit breaker having a bushing terminal, a pair of jaws flexibly mounted on said bushing terminal, and a switch arm hingedly mounted between one of said pair oi' jaws and cooperable with the other of said pairs of jaws.

6. In combination, a horizontally disposed insulator having a terminal thereupon, a pair of contact jaws mounted on said terminal by mounting means permitting a limited degree of motion, a truck-type circuit breaker having a bushing terminal, a pair of jaws mounted on said bushing terminal by mounting means permitting a limited Jaws. .i i

7. In combination, a horizontally disposed insulator having a terminal member mounted thereupon, a contact member, a mounting for said contact member on said terminal permitting a limited degree of motion of the contact member. a truck-type oil circuit breaker having a bushing terminal, a contact, a mounting for the contact on the bushing terminal permitting a limited degree of motion of the contact with respect to the bushing terminal, and a switch arm hinged on one of the contacts and cooperable with the other of said contacts.

8. In a switch, the combination of an insulating bushing, a conductor mounted in the bushing and having an extension therebeyond providing a fiatsided clamping stud, a pair of clamping plates upon the opposite sides of said stud, each of said clamping plates having a flexible lead extending therefrom and a cantilever spring secured thereto, contact plates connected to the flexible leads and supported between the ends of the cantilever springs, said cantilever springs pressing the contact plates towards each other a switch blade lying between the contact plates, a hinge bolt passing through the cantilever springs, the contact plates and the switch blade, and convex washers disposed between the cantilever springs and the switch blade.

9. In a switch, a terminal plate comprising a tubular conductor, a cantilever spring and a flexible lead ilxedly secured in said tubular conductor, a contact plate comprising a tubular conductor having thc flexible leads secured thereinto whereby the Contact plate is electrically connected to the terminal plate, and a pair of projections on the contact plate extending through the ends of the cantilever spring, one o1' said projections having a convex shoulder spacing the cantilever spring from the sides of the plate.

10. In combination, a terminal plate, a flexible lead and a cantilever spring anchored to said plate, a contact plate having the flexible lead anchored thereinto for providing electrical connection between said plates, said second plate having a loose mechanical connection with the cantilever spring.

1l. In combination, a mounting stud, a pair of terminal plates clamped to the stud, a cantilever spring vand a flexible lead permanently secured to each of said terminal plates, contact plates secured to said flexible lead and lying between said cantilever springs and pressed towards each other thereby, a switch blade lying between the latter plates and a bolt passing loosely through the spring, the plates and the blade.

12. In combination, a mounting stud, a pair of terminal plates clamped to the stud, a cantilever spring and a flexible lead permanently secured to each of said terminal plates, contact plates secured electrically to the said flexible leads and being disposed between said cantilever springs and pressed towards each other thereby, a switch blade lying between the latter plates, a bolt passing loosely through the springs, the plates and the blade, and outwardly convex spacing means lying between the springs and the outsides of the latter plates.

13. In combination, a. mounting stud, a pair of terminal plates clamped to the stud, a cantilever spring and a flexible lead permanently secured to each of said terminal plates, contact plates secured electrically to the said flexible leads and being disposed between said cantilever springs and pressed towards each other thereby, a switch blade lying between the latter plates, a bolt passing loosely through the springs, the plates and the blade, and outwardly convex spacing means lying between the springs and the outsides of the latter plates, and pins secured to said latter plates and passing loosely through the ends of the springs to prevent turning of said contact plates about the said bolt.

14. In an electric circuit controlling means of the class wherein a truck type circuit breaker is located in a cell and is adapted to be wheeled out of the cell for inspection and repair purposes, the combination of a disconnect switch having two contacts adapted to be electrically)T connected together by means of a switch blade, one of the contacts being mounted on the cell and the other contact being mounted on the circuit breaker, and a switch blade hinged to one of said contacts and having a limited amount of free side play at the hinge.

15. In an electric circuit controlling means of the class wherein a truck type circuit breaker is located in a cell and is adapted to be wheeled out of the cell for inspection and repair purposes, the combination of `a disconnect switch having two contacts adapted to be electrically connected together by means of a switch blade, one of the contacts being mounted on the cell and the other Contact being mounted on the circuit breaker, at least one or" said contacts having a limited amount of free movement whereby the switch may be closed without necessitating an accurate positioning of the circuit breaker in the cell.

16. In an electric circuit controlling means of the class wherein a truck type circuit breaker is located in a cell and is adapted to be wheeled out of the cell for inspection and repair purposes, the combination of a disconnect switch having two contacts adapted to be electrically connected together by means of a switch blade, one of the contacts being mounted'on the cell andthe other contact being mounted on the circuit breaker, at least one of said contacts having a limited amount of free movement and adjustable in a direction toward and away from the other contact whereby the switch may be closed without necessitating an accurate positioning of the circuit breaker in the cell. y

17. In combination with a circuit breaker mounted for movement as a unit into and out of its circuit making position, said breaker including a cover, an insulating bushing extending upward from the cover, a set of springs at the upper end of the bushing and extending upwardly therefrom substantially in line with the bushing, contact members carried by the springs and extending upwardly from the bushing, and a switch 'blade hinged between the contact members.

tending between the springs and the blade for permitting a limited lateral tilting of the blade at right angles to its plane of movement.

20. In combination, a terminal member, a pair l of cantilever springs anchored to said member, a pair of contact plates, flexible leads connecting the Contact plates with the terminal member, said contact plates being mounted between the cantilever springs by a loose mechanical connection including a bolt extending through both springs and through enlarged openings in both contact plates whereby the plates are permitted a limited longitudinal and rocking motion on the bolt, and studs extending from the outer sides of the contact plates through openings in the leaf springs for guiding and limiitng the extent of motion of the contact plates, said contact plates being resiliently pressed towards one another by the cantilever springs to maintain a pressure contact with such conducting member as may be located between them.

21. In combination, a circuit breaker mounted for movement as a unit into and out of its circuit making position, an insulating bushing extending from the circuit breaker, a terminal sup- Vthe circuit breaker remains in position, said switch blade being mounted by means permitting a limited degree of side motion to permit selfalignment of the switch and the engaged terminalv for different positions of the breaker.

ALFRED ALSAKER. HAROLD A. HOLMES. 

